Hot water heating system having a unique fitting therein



Filed Jan. 4, 1968 N. R. MARKLAND ET AL HOT WATER HEATING SYSTEM HAVING A UNIQUE FITTING. THEREIN k ar is! ixgm s qu 2 I sauce 50 ROOM a4 4 "7 (ibkflze 55 52 28 T- 7 3C 2. 11.! 1T J scum '7Z 74 IO IO PlB 3 56 54 64 4.4 INVENTORS NORMAN .MARKLAND PYRICHARD .PARK\SON A T TOR/V595 United States Patent 3,472,453 HOT WATER HEATING SYSTEM HAVING A UNIQUE FITTING THEREIN Norman Ray Markland, Lanesville, Ind., and Richard Grant Parkison, Louisville, Ky., assignors to American Standard Inc., a corporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 4, 1968, Ser. No. 695,738 Int. Cl. F24d 3/10 US. Cl. 237-63 10 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention contemplates a hot water heating system having a purge fitting located at the boiler, said fitting having a multi-passage structure and diverter valve therein for suitably directing the water during different periods, as during filling and normal run. The fitting is designed to function as a mount for a water circulating pump and water fill check valve, the idea being to eliminate pipe joints wherever possible.

THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a conventional hot water heating system.

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a hot water heating system constructed according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a fitting used in the FIG. 2 system.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the FIG. 3 fitting.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a fitting usable in the FIG. 2 system as an alternate to the FIG. 3 fitting.

FIG. 6 is a view, partly schematic and partly sectional, illustrating another embodiment of the invention.

THE DRAWINGS IN DETAIL FIG. 1 shows a conventional hot water heating system comprising a boiler 10 (formed for example as shown in U.S. Patent 3,165,092), a series of room radiation units 12, water supply piping 14 connecting the outlet of the boiler to units 12, and a return piping 16 connecting the units back to the boiler. A conventional pump 18 circulates hot water through the defined water circuit as required by the room thermostat, not shown.

As indicated schematically, the boiler is provided internally with a series of parallel water paths 21 between its inlet and its outlet 22, suitable burner means being located in the lower portion of the boiler to heat the circulating water. A manual drain valve 24 may be connected to a low point in the boiler heat exchanger for periodic drain out or clean out of the heat exchanger passages.

Fill-up of the Water system may be accomplished by opening a manual valve 26 located in a supply line 28 leading from a source of city water pressure 30. A check valve 32 may be disposed in the supply line to isolate the system from fluctuations in the source pressure. To provide a one way flow of water during fill-up a manual gate valve 34 is sometimes disposed between the boiler and the water admittance point 35. In the closed position this valve 34 directs the water through the room units 12, along the return piping 16, and then into the boiler, causing any air in the lines to be driven ahead of the water. This air is expelled out the conventional pressure relief valve 36 or an air vent valve, not shown. After fill-up 3,472,453 Patented Oct. 14, 1969 ice FIGURE 2 One cost disadvantage of the FIG. 1 system is that valve 34, drain 24, pump 18, and Water admittance point 35 are located at diverse points in the system. This makes for an excess number of pipe joints and some unnecessary field plumbing operations. The system or arrangement of FIG. 2 is intended to overcome this cost disadvantage by grouping the components together on a single unitary water fitting 42. In the FIG. 2 system the circulating pump 18 is arranged atop the fitting 42 which inturn mounts on the inlet pipe 20 of the boiler heat exchanger. Water for fill-up is supplied from source 30 through a water line 28 discharging to a check valve 32a.

FIGURE 3 As shown in FIG. 3, valve 32a comprises a valve body 46 having three threaded flow openings 50, '52 and 54; opening 50 connects with source line 28 (FIG. 2), opening 52 connects with an opening 56 in the lower portion of fitting 42, and opening 54 connects with a line 58 leading to expansion tank 60 (FIG. 2).

Disposed within valve body 46 is a ball type valve element 62 biased against a flat machined seat 64 by a compression coil spring 66. Assuming a satisfactory source pressure 30, the pressure in line 28 will open element 62 and cause water to flow through openings 52 and 54, thus filling the system. During fill-up a valve element 68 in fitting 42 is adjusted to its FIG. 3 position so that water flows upwardly in passage 70 and through an opening 72 in face 74 of the fitting.

As shown in FIG. 4, face 74 is provided with bolt holes 76 for flange mounting of a conventional circulator pump 18 (FIG. 2). Thus, during fill-up the water flows from passage 70 through the pump and into line 16. It then proceeds through room units 12, line 14 and into the boiler passages 21; eventually a substantially full condition is reflected as an overflow through relief valve 36 which is cocked open during fill-up. Attainment of a satisfactory system pressure, for example 12 p.s.i., is preferably accomplished with valve element 68 in a non-obstructina position awazl from seat 88.

Valve element 68 comprises a poppet element 69 carried on a stem 78 which is afiixed to a manual knob 80. Sealing around the stem may be accomplished by an O-ring or other packing 82 normally compressed by a threaded nut 84. By first loosening the nut the packing is relaxed to permit the valve element stem to slide freely. Thus, the knob may be pulled outwardly to draw poppet element 68 to a position leftwardly of the center of passage 70; in this position the water can flow past the element so that the element is not an appreciable obstruction to flow either in passage 70 or its connected passage 86. Poppet element 69 may advantageously comprise a large flexible rubber disc sandwiched between two smaller metal discs, the arrangement being such that when the valve element is in its FIG. 3 position the water pressure flexes the peripheral edges of the large disc into tight sealing engagement with seat 88.

Seat 88 is formed in a passage 86 which extends within fitting extension 90 crosswise of passage 70. As shown in FIG. 2, extension 90 connects with the inlet pipe 20 of the boiler via a threaded flow opening 91. Thus, with poppet 68 in its nonillustrated position away from seat 88 the circulator pump 18 can pump water down through Opening 72, past seat 88, into passage 86 and thence through the boiler to the room units 12.

Periodic draining of the system for adjustment of sys tern pressure or other reason can be accomplished by a threaded drain plug 92 (FIG. 4) fitted into a tapped opening in the side of tubular extension 90 of the fitting.

It will be seen from a comparison of FIGS. 1 and 2 that the FIG. 2 arrangement requires a lesser number of joints than FIG. 1. As a rough approximation the number of joints is as follows:

Fig. 1 Fig. 2

Component Joints Component .Toints Check 32. 2 Check 46 3 T. 35 3 *1. 35 Not used Gate valve 34 2 Fitting 42 1 2 Drain 24. 1 Drain 92-. 1 Pump 18 2 Pump 18. 2 Expansion tank 'I 3 Expansion tank T Not used Total 13 Total 8 1 Exclusive of 56.

It will also be noted that in the FIG. 2 arrangement many of the joints can be made at the factory, whereas in FIG. 1 many of the joints are necessarily made in the field. This permits FIG. 2 components to be furnished as a package with the boiler, thus ensuring less likelihood of incorrect hook-up in the field.

FIGURE 5 FIG. 5 illustrates a valve which can be used in the FIG. 2 system as an alternate to the FIG. 3 design; it is more compact and requires less metal. Additionally it includes a safety latch which makes inadvertant closing of the water circuit more diflicult during normal run periods, thus precluding undesired shut-down of the heating plant.

The safety latch comprises a channel-shaped handle 96 pivotally connected to the stem 78 by a cross pin 98. This pivotal connection enables the handle to be swung up t its dotted line position about the pin 98 axis, after which the stem can be pushed rightwardly to move the poppet element 69 against seat 88. When it is desired to operate the heating system (normal run) the stem can be pulled leftwardly and handle 96 swung downwardly to the FIG. 5 full line position. Dimples 100 may be formed in the side flanges of the U-shaped handle to snap onto the under surface of stem 78 for better retention of the handle in its full line position notwithstanding vibrational forces which might be present. In the full line position handle 96 interferes with rightward movement of the stern so that the handle serves as a safety device.

FIGURE 6 FIG. 6 illustrates a valve usable at the outlet of the boiler instead of the inlet as in FIG. 2. The FIG. 6 valve is shown enlarged in relation to the boiler, pump, and other components of the heating plant.

Hook-up of the valve is such that supply water from source flows through valve body opening 56 and against the right face of check valve element 62, said valve element being shown in its flow-restricting position against a seat 64 formed in a cage-like insert 102. A compression spring 66 urges the valve element against seat 64 when the system is pressurized.

During the purge-filling period the manual valve element 68 is closed against seat 88 to effect a one-way movement of water, in this case from opening 56, past check 62, through pump 18, room units 12, return piping 16, and the boiler. Prior to normal run the manual valve 68 is drawn away from seat 88 to form a complete noninterrupted water circuit.

The FIG. 6 fitting is similar to the FIGS. 3 and 5 fittings in that it is provided with three flow openings 56, 72 and 91, a first flow passage 70 between openings 56 and 72, and a second flow passage 86 between opening 91 and passage 70. In each case the manual valve 68 is arranged so that in one position it prevents flow of water from passage 70 to passage 86 without affecting flow in passage 70, and in the other position it allows the two passages to form part of an operating water circulation circuit. Preferably the fitting in each case is formed as a one piece forged or cast metal housing having the flow passages formed therein, either during casting or by subsequent machining operations.

We claim:

1. In a hot water heating system comprising a water pressure source, a boiler having a water inlet and a water outlet, a series of room heat exchange units, water supply piping connecting said boiler outlet with said units, and water return piping connecting said units with the boiler inlet: the improvement comprising a unitary fitting having first, second and third water flow openings therein, said fitting being internally contoured to define a first continuously open flow passage connecting the first and second flow openings, and a second flow passage extending from the third flow opening to a juncture with the first passage, said juncture constituting a valve seat; a manually operable valve element movable within the fitting between a first position closing the valve seat without obstructing the first passage and a second position opening the valve seat without obstructing the first passage; said fitting being installed in the system so that the first flow opening connects to the water pressure source, the second flow opening connects to the water piping, and the third fiow opening connects to the boiler: whereby, with the valve element in its first position water can be fed from the source of water supply pressure through the first passage and thence through the water piping before reaching the boiler, and with the valve element in its second position water can circulate through the system while allowing replenishment water to flow into the system through the first flow opening.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the water piping comprises a circulator pump; the aforementioned second opening being formed in a surface of the fitting which forms a mounting face for the pump.

3. The system of claim 1 and further comprising a check valve arranged between the water pressure source and the first opening; said first opening being formed in a surface of the fitting which forms a mounting face for the check valve.

4. The system of claim 1 and further comprising a check valve arranged within the fitting; said check valve comprising a spring-urged valve element disposed within the first flow passage so that the spring biases the valve element to a position restricting flow of water from the source through the first flow opening.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the inlet of the boiler constitutes the low point in the boiler heat exchanger, the aforementioned fitting having a fourth opening therein constituting a drain opening for the boiler.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the second passage extends at an angle to the first passage, the manually operable valve element comprising a seat-engageable poppet portion and a stem extending from said poppet portion through a sealed opening in the wall of the fitting; said stem being located on the axis of the second passage whereby an outward pull on the stern causes the poppet portion to move away from the seat and at least partway across the first passage.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the fitting is disposed in the system so that the third flow opening connects with the inlet of the boiler.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the fitting is disposed in the system so that the third flow opening connects with the outlet of the boiler.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the fitting comprises a one piece metal casting having the first, second and third water flow openings therein.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the manually operable valve element comprises a poppet element movable across the first passage'toward and away from the valve seat; said valve element having a flexible peripheral edge area deflectable by water pressure in the first passage to seal tightly against the valve seat.

No references cited.

5 EDWARD J. MICHAEL, Primary Examiner 

